Tech's Holt keeps polishing strong game

Thursday

Gabe Holt proved right away last season he could handle the jump from high-school baseball to college, earning freshman all-America recognition from five organizations.

But Tech coach Tim Tadlock put a lot on Holt, installing him at the top of the order from day one and asking him to switch from second base to right field during the stretch run of a season that ended at the College World Series.

"It was for sure difficult," Holt said Thursday. "I'd never really played outfield. I've always played infield my whole life, so making the switch was kind of hard. But during the fall, I got some time out there, so that definitely helped. I feel pretty comfortable out there now."

Comfort at the plate has never seemed to be an issue. The left-handed hitter from Bonaire, Georgia, ranked second in the Big 12 in hits (94) and stolen bases (29 for 30), led the conference in runs (70) and was named Big 12 freshman of the year and first-team all-conference.

He's off to another hot start, reaching base 10 times in 15 plate appearance in last week's season-opening series against Oregon and going 6 for 6 in stolen bases. He has a 20-game hitting streak, Tech's longest since 2004, dating to last season.

He'll try to be his usual nuisance self when Tech (2-1) hosts Kentucky (3-0) in a three-game series this weekend. The two teams play at 2 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Holt shows patience at the plate and doesn't lose sight of the job of a leadoff batter. Last week, he walked six times in three games. Tadlock complimented him for being a good hitter deep in the count and being a tough out.

"If you need a base runner, it's pretty easy; he does it," the Tech coach said.

Less easy than laying off bad pitches was changing positions last year as the importance of the games was ramping up. Holt started 47 games at second base before coaches decided to move him to right and put Brian Klein, another regular, at second.

That change was put into play in game 51, May 17, starting the final regular-season series.

It led to some uneasy moments, most notably in a CWS game against Arkansas when Holt collided with center fielder Cody Farhat on a routine fly ball to right-center. Two runs scored on what should have been an inning-ending out.

But the Red Raiders clearly think Holt has the speed and the tools to settle in in right.

"My main thing last year was, my first step was always in," he said. "So I kind of learned to read it first and go from there."

Holt said Tech staffer Joe Thomas, who played outfield and pitched at Grayson College and Oklahoma, helped him this off-season. And in midst of the transition, so did Farhat, who was a senior last season and a top-notch defensive outfielder.

"Farhat helped me out a lot last year," Holt said. "He talked to me a lot. If I'd mess up, he would just tell me, 'You haven't really played out here much,' just to kind of boost my confidence. That was really one of the big things, having people backing me up."

Another person backing him up is the boss.

Tadlock says Holt can play the middle infield or any of the three outfield positions. He figures with Holt's approach to the game, he'll figure it out whatever challenge is set before him.

"One beautiful thing about Gabe Holt is, he plays for keeps," Tadlock said. "That guy shows up, wants to win, wants our team to do well, and if you had nine Gabe Holts, you're not going to lose many baseball games."